Mold



Jan. 17, 1933. w. F. EPPENSTEINER MOLD Filed Aug. 8, 1950 1 I 4 p 4 F lNVENTOR Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFl CE WILLIAM. l. EPIPENSTEINER, F WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 UNITED STATES METALS REFINING COMPANY, OF CARTERET, NEW JERSEY,

TION OF NEW JERSEY A. CORPORA- mom) lppllcation'flled 'August a, 1930. Serial in). 473,973.

This invention relates to a mold which is especially designed for the casting of copper,

although of course it may be used for casting other materials if desired. 7

In a prior patent granted to me and Henry M. Green, No. 1,748,333, there is shown ,and described a continuous casting apparatus adap ed especially for copper casting in whic' the molds are provided with a movable bottom designed to releasethe copper cake when cooled sufiiciently to set so that it drops through the bottom aperture of the mold. As constructed in such application, the movable bottom is hinged to one side of the mold and is; held in place during the casting operation by a bail which is pivoted to the sides of the mold and which is swung'underneath the bottom to maintain it in place. The present invention relates to improvements in this con- 2 struction which facilitates the opening and closing of the bottom. 1 7 I have found in practice that the bottom I expands to a certain extent during the casting operation and that the bail expands relatively very little, so that when it is attempted to swing the bail back for the purpose of releasing the bottom the parts areapt to jam to a certain degree. Thissometimes requires a considerable effort on the part of the workman in knocking back the bail to release the preferred form will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the drawing.

Referring to the drawing,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. mold with the bottom in place, part of the mold and bottom being broken away;

Fig. 2 1s an end elevation looking toward the left in Fig. 1, a portion of the top of the mold being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the preferred form of the resilient. mounting for the bail, taken approximately on the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view at right angles to that of Fig. 1, taken approximately on the line 4-4. in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the bail taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1. k

Referring to the drawing, let A indicate the mold as a whole which comprises a body portion B- shown as a rectangular block of metal, preferably copper, in which is cored a casting space 0. The casting space C shown is a rectangular parallel-sided space which is adapted to produce a parallel-sided cake, which is set forth in a certain prior patent granted to me and Henry M Green, No. 1,779,534, dated October 2s, 1:530. 'If desired, the mold is water-cooled by a series of passages D, as described and claimed in cake. It is of course desirable that the bottom another application filed by me. Obviously,

should fit the mold tightly during the casting operation ,and this has previously required a 86 close fit between the bail and b0 om, and under certain circumstances, dueto[diifer-' ences in expansion as above stated, difliculty has been had in driving the bail back to its final locking position. When the bail occu- 4o pies a position in which the bottom is securely held, the vibration due to the-heavy strain of molten metal striking the bottom has a tendency to jar the bail loose, and a" leaky joint is the result. These several disadvam.

5 tages I obviate by the present invention by the simple method of using a resilient or yielding bail. This resilient or yielding quality may be inherent in the bail itself if properly constructed for this purpose, but is 50 preferably introduced into the combination y the use of special reslllent members. The

other constructions and shapes of mold can be utilized.

I The mold also comprises a bottom portion E which completes the casting space and w ich is shown as hinged to the body portion at F, Figure 2, so that it will swing from the closed position illustrated to the open position shown in dotted lines. It isv not absolutely essential that the bottom be connected to the mold, but this is referred.

The bottom is held in place y a bail G, which generally is of U-shaped form, one

' side or leg of the bail being shown as curved seen in Figure 3. In order that the engage ,ment of the bail with the bottom portion that as the bail is-swung to the left in this may be precise, the bottom is provided with two fins or webs L and M, which are adapted to be engaged by the horizontal portion N of the bail. Preferably, these fins or webs are curved at O, as best shown in Figure 2, so

figure, it will carry the bottom with it around its hinge and ride along such curved surfaces until the closed position of the bottom is reached. It therefore requires only a movement of the bail to the left in order to close will not jam the bail in its locked position,

rendering it difficult to dislodge it. This construction of the bail may he arrived at in numerous ways, but I prefer that shown wherein the bail is heldiin an uppermost position under-spring tension, this spring tension being preferably introduced into the bail itself, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4. In these figures the pivots J, Kare stationary and the spring element is in'the bail itself, this being preferred to a reversal of the parts for convenience in construction. Upon the pivots J and K is hung what may be described as a stirrup. Q, the upper part of which is provided with an opening R for the pivot and the lower part of which houses a stifi spring S through which extends a continuation 'I of 'the bail and above which is a washer U afiixed to the continuation T. It will be seen from this construction that as the bail is pressed down, the tension on the springs S is increased. If the parts are properly-adjust- 45, I ed, any expansion of the bottom of the mold will result in putting the springs S under greater tension, but this tension is not so great but that the bail can be dislodged from its locked position bythe workmen after the cast is'made and-it is desired to dump the cake. These springs are so proportioned as to strength that they will adequately hold y the bottom in close position with regard to the mold and resist thev weight, impact and vibration of the molten copper or other inetal as it strikes the bottom of the mold during the cast. If in closing the bottom the latter should be partially expanded, the springs will yield so as to permit the bail to arrive at its fully locked position.

constructional purposes, bloclis W may be welded on the interior of the stirrup to more closely confine the latter on the pivots, and the extensions 1 may be formed separately from the bail and threaded or otherwise connected therewith. I

While I have shown and described one that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various changes may be made therein w1thout departing from the sp'irit'of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A mold having a movable bottom, a j80.

bail, and a pair o spring devices, one arform ofthe invention, it will be understood ranged at each side of the mold, and adapted to resiliently hold the bail in locking position with relation to said bottom.

2. A mold having a movable bottom, pivot's in. said mold, a bail having legs connected with said pivots, and said connection comprising a spring adapted to'yieldingly permit depression of the bail.

3. A mold having a movable bottom pivoted thereto, a bail for fitting under said bottom to hold the latter in place, a pair of.

pivots carried by the mold, stirrups engaging said pivots, and springs in said stirrups, 831d springs yieldingly holding said bail in its uppermost position.

4. A mold having a movable bottom, a

bail for locking said bottom in place, spring mountings for said bail, and adjustments for varying the tensions of said spring mountings w en the bail is in a given position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM 'F. EPPENSTEI-NER.

I provide for ad'ustment of the effective tension by means such as the set screws V, V,

a which rest upon the pivots J or K. By advancing the screws the stirrups Q are raised Sons to elevatethe'bail, and .vice' versa. For 

